FIABCI Prix d'Excellence Awards - FIABCI Prix d'Excellence Awards

Gold Winner Master Plan Category
Setia Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Setia Alam was envisioned as a collection of ecovillages. Our goal was to kick start a community where people from all walks of life would have the opportunity to enjoy the best quality of life the 21st century has to offer, yet without taking more from the Earth than they give back.
To this end, the village concept offered the ideal solution. The traditional village is both practical and attractive. It is of a human scale; not only is it just the right size for a community, it is easier to plan for open spaces and facilities. Finally, it is egalitarian, with room for inhabitants from every strata of society.
By incorporating sustainability into the DNA of the traditional village, we re-invented it as an ecovillage. Our objective was to address a number of factors. From a marketing point of view, it gave the project a point of differentiation.
But far more important is the fact that it represented our client’s response to the threat of climate change. This concern was reflected in the rapidly growing number of Malaysians who are becoming aware of the need to take personal responsibility for the future of our planet.
It has been most gratifying to watch Setia Alam take shape as a realisation our original vision. Midway through its development, the township has already grown into a vibrant community. And the ecovillages, which are now called Residential Villages, are genuinely safe havens for its residents.